Dear 2 Willow Road
Writer James Ambrose shares his love letter to the iconic modernist house.
Words by James Ambrose
Dear 2 Willow Road.
It has been a good two years since I had last got to really see you, the pandemic taking care of that. I managed glimpses when my London-wide lockdown strolls took me north to Hampstead and past your subtle but charming facade, but of course, it is what lies behind your doors when your wonder truly lies.
As an ode to the ideals of modernist architecture, you have aged better than most. Some feared in the 30’s when plans were submitted your ‘modern’ aesthetic would be too out of place in the neighbourhood. But, when completed as a small modernist home designed by Hungarian-born architect Ernö Goldfinger, you were appreciated by most and have remained unchanged since 1939. Functioning as the place where the architect and his wife would make their home until their deaths,
As a building itself, you were made to be flexible, with ingenious movable partitions and folding doors. Forward-thinking for the day with a complete concrete frame and a flat roof which enabled the domineering spiral staircase that sits at the heart of your space (designed by renowned Danish engineer Ove Arup) and subsequent bathrooms to be lit from above. Continuous and horizontal windows throughout the property allow for a great degree of daylight and help to bring your inhabitants a sense of open-air, nature, and views over Hampstead Heath’s green vistas indoors.
When we first met nearly five years ago, it was the promise of a quirky collection of art by the likes of Max Ernst and Henry Moore that truly captivated me. But once inside I found an even more vast and beautifully curated selection of works by Bridget Riley, Jean Arp, Roland Penrose, the photographer's Lee Miller, and Man Ray to name a few to linger upon. The furniture that inhabits you also includes an innovative desk with horizontally-swiveling drawers designed by Goldfinger himself, a detail to come back again and again for.
I’m so happy to be reunited again. To see that your doors are now open and have life running through them once again for all to enjoy. Let’s meet up again soon.
Affectionately yours,
James
More information and how to visit 2 Willow Road can be found here.